how can a 4 wheeler best help an 18 wheeler?

You know sometimes I dont agree with you but....in this case, for this person, your advice is PERFECT!

 

Not stopping ? Slowing down real fast while you're still going the speed limit until you see what's going on and apply the brake .
Just 60 m.p.h. is 88ft per second . You'll travel over 100ft before you even begin to brake . The back of that truck will get real large real quick . Take Bill Cosby's advice and keep a clean pair of underware in your glove box because that's the only chance you have of having clean underwear on your way to the hospital .

 

Bogey.... first off, I can see you're serious and thanks for asking. You get negative replies because we too often get GP members asking the most inane questions about our personal lives and stuff like that or someone looking to give us the "benefit" of their "wisdom" of what they "know" about trucking.

Re the "drafting" issue there are a couple of things you need to understand.

1. TV shows are just that. They are crafted for "entertainment", not practicality. Even "Mythbusters" tell you that over and over. They are trained professionals and all their "experiments" are crafted down to the last inch. Even with that they have "oops" moments; they have multiple crash dummys for a reason.

2. 100 feet is too dang close. Note the remains of trailer tire blowouts laying about; in fact stop sometime and pick up a "gator" (big chunk of tread). Heavy ain't they? At 60mph that "gator" has enough kinetic energy to come right thru your windshield and ruin your day. At the very least you are well within the distance for a rock to be picked up by the trailer wheels and spat back at dangerous speed. No, the mudflaps will not deflect em all. Stay back around 200 feet if you gotta follow. It's a helluva lot safer for both of us.

3. In these days of terrorism and increased incidence of truck hijacking; truckers, especially those hauling hazmat tank or hi-value goods, are much more aware of 4-wheelers "tracking" us closely. We pick up the phone and call 911 or one of the special 1-800 numbers like Highway Watch and tell them " This is (company, truck number and location), I'm hauling a load of (description of load) and I've got this (description of following vehicle) following me close for the last several miles. You will get a visit from the flashy light people and they won't be friendly... especially if we tell em "I thought I saw the silhouette of a gun".

If you want to help truckers leave us lots of maneuvering room (you can't see what's in front of us either), especially in bad weather. Remember that just because you see trucks moving in bad weather (winter snows) that doesn't mean that it's safe for you to go visit the local mall (we're bigger and heavier and can run thru 6 inches of standing snow, you can't).

Lastly, every time you encounter an "anti-truck" rant, your friends, local paper, tv station, etc, etc or see a misleading story in such (EG "Truck kills 14 people when the "truck" in question is a #### 1/2 ton pickup) remind them of the old saying " If you got it a truck brought it" 'cause it's the truth.

 

If I'm not paying attention I agree completely, but throughout this thread its been repeated time and again that y'alls are assumin' that I ain't payin' no ttension. That I'm buggin' out on your 1-800 # wishin' I was in that big beautiful Peterbilt and countin corn rows and outta state license plates. I know 18 wheelers HATE SLAMMIN THEY'S BRAKES'S... I don't fall in the 98% of 4 wheelers that text while drivin'. as I said before I'm lookin ahead of you a mile because I know you don't have the brakes I do. I don't have to worry about 18 speeds, I'm likely lookin' out for you, seeing the 53ft'r pulling onto the express, gettin over and makin sure you can too, so I'd appreciate y'alls tamin' yer potshots at ME Personally. If it's me (4wheelr) generally O.K. but intentionally singling me out some guy piss you off yesterday ain't cool

 

WOW thanks Kittyfoot, finally someone not yellin at me. I agree on many points you make and guess I agree on the drafting issue (reluctantly) and then right then I get a revelation of a convoy of truckers 6 deep all following each other less than 40ft apart. What gives? I get it...it's o.k. for you'ins'guys but not me

 

Here's the real deal and if you ever get out here, You'll find out that it's the solid truth...

We don't need your help, We can see ahead just fine. The only thing you can do to help us is...Get the hell out of the way!
If you want to be noticed, So what? If I notice you it's because you got in my way.

Go home and watch Smokey and the Bandit again! Go apply at CR England so that you too can be a big rig driver but...Stop bothering us with your stupid highway hijinx.

You're not helping!

 

No it's not o.k.but you're exaggerating on the 40 ft. bit . Canadians are the worst tailgaters . Evidently they don't teach them anything about safe intervals . How do you look ahead a mile ?

 

I agree bullswifey, I feel for the trucker that gets cut off by a 4wheelr and then stays in the lane goin slower than everyone, knowin' the 18wheelr doesn't have space to get over, pass the dumass, and then get back over. I don't do THAT, if anything I blitch at the folks that DO.
I dont understand why more 18wheelrs don't have loudspeakers to set them people straight...'er educat'em on the fly